[APD] P2O5 Triple Superphosphate and other fertilization questions

["Bill C" <w_r.c at usa.net>]

Can P2O5 Triple Superphosphate (0-45-0) be used in place of KH2PO4?

If so . . . how much would I use in my 55 gal. tank?

The tank has been set up for about two months and is illuminated with two sylvania 40 watt sunstick full spectrum 5,000 K fluorescent lights and two 40 watt sylvania gro-lux/aquarium wide spectrum fluorescent lights in shop light hoods.

Substrate is 100% Flourite.

I do not have CO2 yet . . . saving up for the tank and regulator, but it will be a while before I can get the system.

I live in Gainesville, FL and the report that the water department sent me indicates that our water supply has 26.8 mg/l calcium, 26.0 mg/l chloride, conductivity (umhos) 330, magnesium 15.2 mg/l, ph 8.75, sodium 9.47 mg/l, sulfate 82.0 mg/l, TDS 220 mg/l, total alkalinity 41.0 mg/l, total hardness (as CaCo3) 136 mg/l, orthophosphate none detected, nitrate none detected, and nitrite none detected.

The tank currently contains 4 black skirt tetras, 3 neon tetras, 2 cardinal tetras, 4 otocinclus, 3 cory catfish, 3 black mollies, and one crayfish.

For plants I have moderate plantings of mexican oak leaf (growing very well), rottala (growing fairly well), a little java fern (growing fairly well), several cryptocoryne (slowly putting out new leaves), bacopa (hardly growing at all), caboma (doing poorly), anacharis (growing fairly slowly), water sprite (floating plants growing better than those planted in substrate), and a new patch of glosso that seems to be doing well.

I ordered fertilizer additives from Homegrown Hydroponics . . . MgSO4 (magnesium sulphate), K2SO4 (potassium sulphate), KNO3 (potassium nitrate), and chelated trace elements (I made a solution of 1 tablespoon trace in 300 ml of water.)

I have been doing 50% water changes every Monday.  Then immediately add 1/4 teaspoon MgSo4, 1/4 teaspoon K2SO4, 1/4 teaspoon KNO3, and 7 ml of the trace solution.  Then on wednesday and saturday add 1/4 teaspoon KNO3 and 7 ml trace.

I have not yet had a source for PO4 and that is why I was wondering about using P2O5 Triple Superphosphate (0-45-0) in place of KH2PO4.

I have had a mild series of algae types on the plants, substrate and/or  glass in the tank but at this time there does not seem to be a serious algae problem, just a light series of types which have changed almost weekly.  Have been trimming the plants as necessary, and removing algae from the glass before water changes.

I'd appreciate help on the fertilization scheme and any other advice as well.

Bill Carpenter





_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/aquatic-plants